Coffee is one of the most popular drinks. On a daily basis, its consumption reaches over a billion cups. Imagine how it would be if everyone had to cook on their own. As early as 1843, the first device was invented to help coffee lovers, who eventually improved to a coffee machine familiar to us. A coffee machine is a kind of complicated coffee grinder. She automatically prepares coffee, just press the button. Inside, quite a lot of processes are happening: grinding the grains, feeding water or steam into the tubes, possibly adding whipped milk. The user just needs to fall asleep and pour the necessary products inside. On how to buy the optimal model and what should be paid attention to our guide at your choice.
Contents:
- The best companies producing coffee machines
- Principle of operation and arrangement of coffee machines
- Types of coffee machines
- Selection parameters of the coffee machine
- Which coffee machine to choose
- How much does the coffee machine
? The best manufacturers of coffee makers - which company to choose
. Many models of coffee machines are on the domestic market. Almost every manufacturer of household appliances has this kind of apparatus in the range of its products. The demand for them is very high, as the number of coffee lovers grows from day to day. Coffee machines are purchased for various office organizations, as well as for home use.
Anyone who for any reason does not have the opportunity to delve into the material we prepared, we recommend that you pay attention to the following brands:
- Melitta;
- Bosch;
- Saeco;
- Delonghi;
- Krups.
All listed companies have proved themselves only from the positive side, showing an example of an excellent combination of quality and reliability of manufactured goods. With specific models can be found in our ranking of the best coffee machines.
Principle of operation and arrangement of coffee machines
A coffee machine is a special automated device for making coffee both from a ground product and from whole grains. Cooking a drink in a coffee machine requires a minimum of participation from the person.
The device consists of several important parts: a boiler, a heating element, a heat exchange cup, a pump, a system of valves and sensors, as well as a dispensing group and a tap of boiling water.
The principle of the coffee machine is technologically complex, if you go into details and subtleties. Without them, everything looks much easier. The user falls asleep in a special compartment( horn, filter holder) a portion of the product, pressing the tablet with a temper, and then puts the Holder in place.
Then, by pressing the button, the water is poured through the group, the coffee is poured into the cup at the outlet. From the boiler, steam is produced, with the help of which either milk is beaten up by hand, or the beverage is warmed up.
Some models have the function of heating glasses. Heating occurs from a boiler or from electricity.
Types of coffee machines
Capsule
The most automated coffee machines are capsular. In these models, ready-made compressed tablets of coffee capsules are used. They need to be placed in a special compartment, where there will be a puncture and a bay under the pressure of hot water.
Next, a freshly brewed drink is distributed in cups. Capsule devices do not require the setting of separate parameters, such as temperature and strength, because all this is determined by the capsules that are used.
Pluses:
- low cost;
- quickness and convenience of cooking;
- noiseless operation due to the lack of grinding process;
- long shelf life of coffee capsules( 1-2 years);
- small dimensions.
Disadvantages:
- unchanged parameters;
- is a small field for experiments;
- dearness of coffee tablets.
Drip
Drip coffee machines are ideal for drinkers who are not strong coffee in large quantities. In the apparatus, steam is generated, it condenses and, reaching a certain temperature, the droplets begin to pass through the ground coffee.
It is thanks to this technology that the strength of the drink remains rather small. In most of the drip coffee machines there is a heating capacity, which is very convenient in case of brewing a coffee pot for several people.
Pluses:
- reasonable price;
- is easy to operate and maintain;
- greater amount of servings;
- heating function;
- the ability to make both coffee and tea.
Disadvantages:
- need to wash after each use;
- low temperature and strength;
- impossibility to prepare espresso and cappuccino.
Pump( carob)
The water that has been heated up over ninety degrees passes with a certain pressure through the horn, in which coffee is poured, thus taking up the fragrance, which makes the drink very tasty. The power of such devices is in the range from 1,200 to 1,900 W, and the cooking time takes only half a minute.
Advantages:
- fast cooking;
- rich and bright taste;
- the aroma of the drink.
Disadvantages:
- high cost.
Steam( carob)
Unlike the previous one, in such a coffee machine steam is used with a temperature of about one hundred degrees. He also passes through the coffee in the horn. Because of the higher temperature, the steam lowers the aroma, but the caffeine absorbs more, which makes the drink stronger. The steamers have a power from 1,200 to 1,500 W, and are able to make coffee in a few minutes.
Advantages:
- small value;
- high coffee strength.
Disadvantages:
- is a relatively slow cooking speed;
- drink is less aromatic.
coffee selection parameters Capacity( volume)
This parameter is responsible for how much the beverage can be cooked in one working cycle. When choosing a coffee machine, take into account the place where it will be installed.
1. For office organizations, cafes and bars, devices with a large volume of two liters are needed.
2. For home use will fit coffee machines from one liter, as this will be enough for a large family.
Heater type
Boilers or thermoblocks are commonly found. Thermoblocks in the form of a thin metal tube heat the water fairly quickly and in the volume that is needed. Boilers also heat all available water until its temperature reaches the desired value.
1. Those who are looking for a coffee machine with high speed and energy saving, you should choose the first option.
2. Apparatus with an additional boiler suitable for fans of cappuccino and espresso.
Mill type
Millstones are made of steel or ceramics.
1. Steel is able to withstand the maximum loads, so these coffee machines are better to buy for restaurants, cafes and other institutions with a large cross-country people.
2. Silent ceramic, on the contrary, it is advisable to buy for small offices and home applications, because there the device will not be used in the amount as it occurs in the restaurant.
Dosage and grind mode
Coffee machines can prepare coffee according to different recipes. This means that for different beverages you need your own dosage and grind mode.
Espresso requires a small grind, and for American - a larger, and so on. On the dial, the grinding mode is indicated by numbers, where the smallest will be under the smallest figure, and the largest - under the largest.
Dosage usually ranges from 5 to 15 grams. When choosing a small dosage, get a stronger drink on the output and, conversely, vice versa.
Presence of a milk container
It is necessary to have such a capacity in the models of coffee machines for cappuccino. There are special devices with a capuchinator. Milk in machine mode reaches the right temperature after which it is whipped and added directly to the drink. It is important in such coffee machines to monitor the freshness of milk, not allowing souring.
Power saving mode
The coffee machine with this function switches the boiler off automatically if it is idle for longer than the time it takes to save energy costs. This function will be useful for everyone.
Simultaneous cooking of two portions of
Simultaneous preparation of two cups of coffee is very useful in conditions when a beverage is brewed for several. Due to the close location of the cranes to each other, this will allow pouring a double portion into one glass, which will please the fans over time to drink a lot of coffee.
platform heating function Some models of coffee machines are equipped with the function of heating cups and maintaining the necessary temperature for a long time. Especially this parameter should interest those who prefer espresso, since it is served only in hot dishes.
Display
The display will be a useful option because it will allow you to read the service information, for example, the installed program, temperature, grind mode or warnings about water filling, grains loading, equipment cleaning and so on. Automatic setting of parameters will help to avoid mistakes in the process of using the coffee machine.
Which coffee machine to choose
1. Capsule type machines will be the best choice for the office. Such coffee machines do not need constant washing and are easy to maintain. But it should be borne in mind that the high cost of capsules of coffee will require significant monetary expenditure. The performance of the devices should be at least two liters. Millstones are better to prefer steel, they will last much longer.
2. Drip devices should be selected for those who prefer to drink soft coffee. It is best to buy a similar coffee machine for home use, as it will have to be cleaned immediately after cooking. Performance may not exceed one liter, this is enough for even a big family. Ceramic millstones will provide noiselessness and will cope well with a small load.
3. Espresso coffee machines will be a profitable purchase for both home and office. They allow you to prepare a drink at a high speed, while saving energy and consumables. Here, as nowhere else, the function of heating cups, as well as a container for milk.
How much does an espresso machine
1. A good capsule coffee machine can be bought, keeping within 10 thousand r. A good choice would be a device for an office with a small number of employees.
2. Over 10 and up to 50 thousand r will cost a coffee machine of a drop type or espresso. Such devices will allow to save considerably on coffee in comparison with capsular. Go for a carrot home, as it often has a milk container, heated cups and many other functions that allow you to enjoy excellent drinks.
3. From 50 to 200 thousand r, you can buy coffee machines with a high resource, additional functions, such as display, grinding adjustment, simultaneous cooking of two portions and auto-cleaning equipment.